"We know that there are some massive stars inside the Eagle Nebula. The fate of these stars is to explode as supernovas," Mr Flagey told BBC News.

"So it was not completely unexpected that one of these has already exploded and has produced the shockwave that is heating the gas and dust."

The star is thought to have exploded around 8,000-9,000 years ago.

Since light from the Eagle Nebula takes 7,000 years to reach us, the stellar explosion would have appeared as an oddly bright star in our skies about 1,000 to 2,000 years ago.

The astronomers estimate that the blast would have spread outward and toppled the three pillars around 6,000 years ago. This means that we will not be able to see the destruction for another 1,000 years.

When the mighty pillars are seen to crumble, gas and dust will be blown away, exposing newborn stars forming inside. A new generation of stars might spring up from the dusty wreckage.

Despite being inspired to pursue his current career by Hubble's iconic picture of the structures, Mr Flagey said he was not disappointed to discover that they are - in all likelihood - already gone.

"I will not be here to see it destroyed," he said, "there are plenty of other regions like this. So I'm not sad."